The Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 2002 represents a significant milestone. Since the inaugural exhibition in 1993, the Triennials have become an enduring part of the Queensland Art Gallery’s profile, and highlight the Gallery’s commitment to collecting, researching, exhibiting, publishing and interpreting the recent and current art of the Asia-Pacific region. This engagement with contemporary art from the Asia-Pacific will be a central activity of the long-anticipated Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, which will become the permanent home for future Triennials when it opens in late 2005.

APT 2002 marks a shift from the panoramic style that was an inseparable part of the preceding three APTs. Each of the past Triennials displayed the work of more than 50 artists. In contrast, APT 2002 includes 16 artists and a performance collective. These artists are from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. This shift enables each artist to be represented in depth, and allows the exhibition to explore modern art and contemporary culture from the 1960s to the present.

APT 2002 presents the work of a group of highly respected artists who have made important contributions during the past 40 years, but whose work remains relevant and enjoys continuing international interest. Alongside them are younger artists who rework and expand the radicalism of their predecessors. The artists and works in this Triennial cross conventional image and media classifications as well as spanning generations and centuries.

A major part of the Triennials’ success is due to the support received from government bodies, grant agencies, corporations and individuals, and I thank the many sponsors for their generosity in making this exhibition possible.

Doug Hall
Director

Curatorial Team for APT 2002 led by Director, Doug Hall:
Head of Asia-Pacific Art, Suhanya Raffel
Asia-Pacific Triennial Senior Project Officer, Rhana Devenport
Head of International Art, Anne Kirker
Head of Australian Art, Julie Ewington.